He put his beer down with a thud. "Ya know, I'm not so fond of this thinkin' thing. Seems to me thinkin' is what got together this mess we find ourselves in. If there'd been no thinkin' just shootin' and slashin', the thing would be done and I could be nestled in some bosom. Thinkin's the thing that screwed the lot of us!"
"Ah, Jenoah, I can see how thinking ruins the whoring and partaking, but its thinking that has allowed me to keep your head upon your shoulders so that you might continue with the 'slashin' and shootin'.' "
A third man joined the two, pulling up a chair, tugging his long beautifully brocaded coat in place, saying to the comparatively desheveled chap, though he was speaking to the Captain,"Honestly, Martin, it's 'shootin' and slashin'', get it right chap. You should know these things by now, Royal Navy Captain and all. I have no idea how the two of you find yourselves together, considering one is a male trollop, and you, well, Martin, you are not."
Martin smiled and took the hand the giant of a man offered as he sat. "Bartholomew! I heard you died!"
"Many have tried, few have succeeded!", Bartholomew laughed.
Jenoah smiled and also shook the man's hand, which was gentle though it could crush the equally strong Jenoah's paw like a nut. His old friend was solidly built, and it is said that many have tried to kill Bartholomew, that he had died a few times, and yet, here he is.
"Captain Martin rudely asked me my opinion regarding this'n operation we are about to bestow upon the Spaniard. I think its a waste of men, time and effort, is what I think, but I too see no way around it. Honor is a terrible reason to die."
Bartholomew chortled, "Jenoah, you are always of one opinion. If it keeps you from the ladies and the wine, then its a waste of time! I am not sure that is what Martin wants to hear... surely you have an idea?"
Martin smiled, and offered, "Bartholomew, Jenoah feels that we should sail as Nelson, 'Straight at 'em'! I have the notion he is quite right..."
Bartholomew was not impressed. "If you'd like we could save you the trouble, and sink the Fianna right here at the pier, and Jenoah could get to his rightful business!"
"Jenoah, I think I agree with Bartholomew. A direct attack would end not with your debauchery, but with your feeding the fishes."
Jenoah smirked, understanding. "We will feed the fishes at the end of the day anyway, why not guns ablazin'? I think the Spaniard is wary of trickery, and the straight on attack would unsettle him. He has his fleet, you have the Fianna and Hermes, two frigates against several ships of the line. Remember Captain, the victory here is not in the sinkin' but in be in the delayin'!"
"Hmm... your point is a good one, Jenoah, and bears more thought. Leave us, if you will, and thank you for your time." Martin watched as Jenoah nodded at Bartholomew's parting words to the officer, and left them alone, rejoining his motley friends.
"He is not a learned man, but there are few lieutenant's with his experience. I should have kept him..."
Martin leaned back in his chair,"For what, Admiral, to follow you around like a puppy? He would drown himself to end the misery."
Bartholomew nodded, "As I have wished to drown myself many a time since this business began. Sending my friend to his death. Jenoah is right, and you know it. You will not survive this nasty business, but you must do it. Your affairs, and those of your men, they are in order?"
"Yes...", Martin replied, solemn now, "Yes. Only the unmarried men are to remain."
They sat silently for a while, watching those men as they paid life its last respects.
Bartholomew spoke first. "Do you think they understand, that they all will most certainly die in the morning? That they are being sent to the slaughter so others surely not as worthy may live?"
Martin remained still for a moment, staring across the room, a silence Bartholomew knew well to wait through. "I think that what they know is that life is short and miserable with death, that this is their life, and that when it ends it ends."
Bartholomew lifted the glass of red wine to his lips, "Ahh... but that's the trick, eh? When it ends, to not end it badly..."
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